Who is the head of the Catholic Church?

• A. The Bishop of Rome
• B. The Cardinal
• C. The Priest
• D. The Pope

Answer: (D)

The head of the Catholic Church is the pope, who is the Bishop of Rome and serves as the universal shepherd for Catholics around the world. He is regarded as Saint Peter’s successor, entrusted with guiding the Church in matters of faith, morals, and governance. This leadership is exercised in communion with bishops and, when needed, with the College of Cardinals, who assist and help elect a new pope but do not itself rule the entire Church. The Bishop of Rome and the pope are the same person, while a cardinal is a senior official who supports the pope and helps select him, and a priest leads a local parish and administers the sacraments under the pope’s broader oversight.